Democrats to Tackle Reform with First Bill

After 8 years out of power, Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats in the House are hoping the control granted them by the voters in 2018 will be more than just a short-term stint. To that end, they’ve wisely selected an issue that resonates with the American people for their first legislative issue: reform.

Rep. John Sarbanes will take the lead on the issue, and, as we have discussed frequently the intense degree of public support for these issues. Should Democrats prove successful in passing legislation that the public feels restores influence to ordinary citizens, they will seize an opportunity Republicans largely passed on over their time in control.

The comprehensive legislation is still being worked on, but campaign finance, ethics reform, and voting rights will all be featured.

Though details are scarce, a few things are clear. First, Elizabeth Warren’s influence over the Party remains strong as the 2020 presidential season looms large as she is a central player here. Second, the solutions offered would benefit from the more nuanced solutions preferred by Take Back Our Republic (such as how we view 501c4 organizations and our proposed tax credit solution over public financing). Third, because of divided government and some of the elements of the legislation, passage of any part of this agenda will require breaking up the bill.

We find the ethics reform portions of the legislation particularly encouraging, and we are supportive of the prioritization of reform efforts across the board. And, from a purely political standpoint, it’s a win for the Democrats to be talking about an issue that unites Americans unlike any other.

As a conservative organization, our hope is that both parties will begin to take the support for reform and turn it into real, substantive legislative action. In that vein, we encourage fellow conservatives to come to the table with this bill, find common ground and work across the aisle where they can.

What do you think? Are you pleased the Democrats are opening with this legislation? Do you believe there are opportunities for bi-partisanship here? Join the conversation at: https://www.facebook.com/takebackorg/.